The Time in Henry James’s The Wings of the Dove

Abstract

In Henry James’s The Wings of the Dove, time and money are in a juxtaposed relationship to illustrate the two main contrasting protagonists. This paper focuses on Merton Densher as a third protagonist and in his meditation towards the end of the story, we will explore how realms of “real life” and historical time are interconnected. James is famous for employing writing tools and techniques such as breath-taking moments, unreliable narrators, and limited views that are closely related to a short time or restricted space. However, in The Wings of the Dove, these elements mature into a long and productive meditation by Densher.